Steam-engine



J. G. KELLER.

v STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.27| I9I. 1,389,832. Patendsept. 6,1921.

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STEAM ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27. I9I7.

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J. G. KELLER.

STEAM ENGINE.

, MPLIcATloN FILED Auafzi, 1917. 1,389,832. Ptlltdsep 6, 1921.

Inventor' I. G. KELLER.

STEAM ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27. 191?.

1,389,832. PatentedSept. 6, 1921.

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STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, I9I7. 1,389,832. Panted sept.Y 6, 1921.

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n @is UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN Gr. KELIER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TOTI-IE VILTER MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, AWISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

STEAM-ENGINE.

To all f w 7mm it may ,concern f Be it known that I, JOHN G. KELLER, a citizen of Switzerland, 'residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of .-\Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines,

.of which the following is a specification,

' tiplicity of bearings and eccentrics for the individual valves, as commonly used in connection with puppet valve engines, being eliminated; to reduce the consumption of steam and Jfuel; and generally to increase the eiiiciency and improve the construction and operation of engines of this class.

Thev invention consists vin the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in the several gures.

Figure 1 isa side elevation of a portion of a. steam engine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 isan end elevation as viewed from the right relative to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa verticall longitudinal section of the cylinder and valve housings; Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the exhaust valves and associated parts of the engine; Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the admission valves and associatedI parts; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the admission valve releasing gear at one end of the cylinder, and a partial horizontal section of the bonnet on the line 4 4, Fig. 1; and Figs.' 7 and 8 arel enlarged sectional detail views of a disengaging device for -disconnecting the valve gear from the actuating eccentric on the crank shaft of the engine, Fig. 7 being a section on the line 7 7, Fig. 8, and Fig. 8 a section on the line 8--8, Fig. 7

The engine comprises a cylinder 1, which may be the single cylinder of a simple en- Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

Application filed August 27, 1917. Serial No. 188,395.

gine, or the high pressure cylinder of a cross or tandem compound engine. It is formed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, on the under side adjacent to the ends and transversely to the axis of the cylinder, with valve pockets 2, into the inner ends of which the exhaust ports 3 open, and from which exhaust passages 4 lead laterally toward the middle of the cylinder to exhaust pipe connections 5. f

The cylinder is provided with detachable hollow or chambered heads 6 and 7 each formed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, on the upper side transversely to the axis of the cylinder, with an admission valve chamber 8, communicating at one side above the valve seats, with the steam chambers 9, which communicate on their lower sides through passages 10 with steam supply pipes or connections 11. The steam and exhaust connections being separate from one another, avoid unequal and injurious strains on the cylinder resulting from the high temperature of the superheated steam with which the hollow heads are supplied, and the lower temperature of the exhaust steam passing through the exhaust ports, valve pockets and passages formed in the cylinder. Steam admission ports 12 are formed in the cylinder heads and lead laterally from the inner ends of the pockets 8 below thevalve seats therein, directly into the ends of the cylinder. Y Cages-13, each formed in parallel planes with two valve seats 14 and 15, are fitted in the pockets 8 and are formed o-r provided with axial valveV guides 16.

Cover plates l?? are bolted or otherwise detachably secured with bonnets 18 to the cylinder heads over the pockets 8, closing the outer ends thereof. The plates 17 are provided with sleeve bearings 19 in axial alinement with the valve guides 16, and the bonnets 18 are formed with bearings 20 in axial alinement with the sleeve bearings 19.

within said bearings. To the upper ends of the stems 24 are attached yokes 25, formed or provided with upwardly extending stems `26,'in alinement with the stems 24 and constituting in eifect continuations thereof.V

Check pistons 27, fitting in the dash pots 21, are formed or provided withV tubular stems 28, which are secured on the stems 26 'and are guided in the bearings 20'. The dash pots 21 are provided at or near the bottom thereof with air check valves 29, for regulating the air vcushions against which the 36 mounted in the -Vbonnets 187 'transversely to the valve stems and to=the aXisof the cylinder. The rocker shafts 36 are actuated to'open the valves by releasing gear from an eccentric (notshown) lon the crankshaft of the engine under the controlof a centrifuga-l governor 3 7, shown in Fig.' 1.

The'automatic variable cut-ofi' vreleasing gear for the operation of the steam admission valves 23, comprises, as shown' in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, an arm 88, fixed onl the rocker shaft 36, a lever 39 fulcrumed on an exten sionvof the bonnet/22 coaxially with and adjacentto the arm 38, a hook or dog 40, pivotally mounted on the lever 39, and movi able into and out of position to engagevwith the arm38, ya trip arm 41,"fiXed on the pivot pin or shank of the hook or dog, a v spring 42, attachedto 'the trip arm and tending to hold the hook or dog in lposition to yengage' with the armv38, and Va knockoil' or trip cam 43,"rotatab ly mounted on the extension of the bonnet 22 coa'xially with theA rocker shaft 36, and-movable in the path of the trip arm 41 to release the admission valve 23 and permit it to close at anyfpoint in the travel of the engine pis` ton, from zero to about nine tenths of full stroke. The trip cams 4 3 maybe connected with 'the governor 37 in any suitable manner.

As shown in Fig. 1, an upwardly extending arm 44 on the cam at the front end of the cylinder, is connected =by a rod 45 with the governor-'lever 46, andadownwardly projecting arm 47 on the front cam is connected by a rod 48 with an upwardly projecting arm 44 on the rear cam. As' shown in'Fig; 5, each valve stem 24 is lubricated by a force feed oil connection 49, with the upper part of the sleeve bearing V19, a passage 50 leading downwardly from said connection into the bore of the bearing.

An outlet pipe or connection 51, leading from a chamber formed around 'the valve stem 24 in the'sleeve bearing 19 adjacent to .its upper end, conducts off. surplus oil and water formed by the condensation of steam.

vin the labyrinth grooves of the valve stem,

the oil and water held in the grooves making 1a `steam tight joint-, between the valve stem and sleeve bearing.

The admission valves are openedl Vunder the control` of the governor by a more or less 'Y direct connection with an eccentric (not shown) on the crankl shaft of the engine, thus eliminating the ordinaryk lay shaft with its noisy bevel gears and multiplicity of bearings and eccentrics vor cams, and enabling kthe puppet admission valves of the Y As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the levers 39' are connected by rods 52-with a wrist plate or rocker 53, which is connected by a detach-V able coupling device 54with Vthe eccentric rod 55 ora rod actuateddirec'tlyor indi- L re'ctly by an eccentric on the crank shaft of the' engine, Y

Asshown in Figs. 3 and 4, cages 56 fitted lin the eXha'ust'valve pockets 2 vof thev cylinder, are each formed with two valve seats 57 and 58, and provided with an axial sleeve bearing 59, the upper end of'which extends above the lower va'lv'eseat and forms a valve guide. Bonnets 60, boltedor detachably fastened to the cylinder over thepockets 2, confine the cages 5 6 in place therein, and-*aref formed with guides or bearings 61 in axial alinement or parallel with the sleeve bearings 59. Balanced double-beatj puppet Iexhaust valves 562, like or similar'to the'adinission valves 23, are fitted yto the'guides on the`upper 'ends of the sleeve bearings59 andare adapted to vclose simultaneously 'on the seats 57 Vand The valves 62 are provided with stems 63,'itted in the sleeve bearings V59 and formed therein with labyrinth packing grooves, as shown in Fig. 4. i vTo the lowerendsof the`stems63 are fastenedyokes 64, iitted inthe guides or bear ings 61 and provided with rollers 65. To the nets 60 and the seats 67, tend to close the valves 62and hold them on their seats.'Y

ARocker'shafts 69, having bearings in the bonnets 60 transverse to the valve stems and to the axis of the cylinder are provided with cams/70, `adapted by engagement with the rollers 65, to lift andopen the valves 62.

Referring to Fig: 4, a forceV feed oil supply pipe 71, is connected with the lower end of the sleeve bearing 59 and communicates with a passage 72 leading upwardly into the bore ofthe bearing adjacent to its upper end. A return or outlet lpipe 73,-

for surplus oil and water of condensation, is .connected with said sleeve bearing in communication with an annular chamber formed in the lower part thereof around the valve stem.

The rocker shafts 69 extend outwardly through one of the cylinder supports 74, on which they have adjustable bearings 75, and are provided at their outer ends with arms 76. The arms 76 are connected, as shown in Fig. 1 by rods 77 with a wrist plate or rocker 78, which is connected by a detachable coupling device 54 with a rod 79 directly or indirectly connected with and actuated by an eccentric (notV shown) on the crank shaft of the engine. j v l The detachable or releasable coupling devices 54, by means of which both the admission and the exhaust valves'mav be` disconnected from the eccentrics on the engine crank shaft and operated manually for warming and draining the cylinder, starting the engine, etc., each comprise, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a journal box 80, fitting the wrist pin 81 on one of the rocker arms, and formed transversely to the axis of the wrist pin with a split clamping sleeve 82, normally fitting the actuating eccentric rod 55 or 79 freely, and provided with a clamping screw 83. The screw 83 is provided with an operating handle 84, and is formed on one side with a notch 85, which when it is turned into register with the bore of the sleeve 82, permits the eccentric rod to slide freely therein. The eccentric rod is also formed with a notch 86, into which the clamping screw 83 fits when the notch 85 therein is turned out of register with the bore in the sleeve 82 to lock and hold the eccentric rod in its normal working relation to the wrist pin 81. The box 80, or coupling head, is provided with a spring pressed locking pin 87, having a tapered end fitting into a correspondingly tapered socket 88 in the eccentric rod, to facilitate bringing the cross bore in the sleeve 82 for the clamping screw 83, into exact register' with the notch 86 in the eccentric rod, and to assist in holding the coupling head in its exact normal working position on the eccentric rod.

The upper or protruding end of the locking pin 87 is provided with a cross piece or handle 89, for lifting it out of engagement with the socket in the eccentric rod, and is also provided on one side, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7, with a stud 90, loosely fitting into a groove in one side of a cap screw 91, for holding the locking pin retracted and out of contact with the eccentric rod, the stud being withdrawn from the groove and turned with the pin into engagement 'with the top or outer face of the cap screw.

To disconnect either set of valves from their actuating eccentric, the handle 84 of the clamping screw is turned up till the notch 85 registers with the bore of the sleeve 82, and the locking pin '87 is withdrawn from thesocket 88 and turned to carry the stud 90 into engagement with the outer face of the cap screw 91. The associated valves may then be manipulated by hand through the wrist plateor rocker with which they are connected, the eccentric rod being held and guided by the sleeve 82, in which it is free to reciprocate in case the engine is started. To reconnect the valves with their actuating eccentric, the locking pin 87 is first released, and being pressed by its spring against they eccentric rod,will be forced into the socket 88 therein when the coupling head 8O is brought approximately to it-s normal position thereon. The forcing of the tapered pin into the tapered socket, brings the coupling head into exact position with the notch 86 in the eccentric rod, in perfect register with the cross bore in the sleeve 82. The handle 84 is then turned down to its normal position, thereby turning the clamping screw into engagement with the notch and clamping the sleeve tightly on the rod.

It will be observed that the lower seats 15 of the admission valves 23, are located in a plane somewhat above and out of alinement with. the upper sides of the openings of thc admission ports 12 into the cylinder, and that the lower seats 58 of the exhaust valves are located in a plane above and out of alinement with the upper sides of the exhaust passages 4. By this construction and arrangement of the valve seats, ports and passages, side pressure of steam against the valves when they are opened, and unequal wear due to this cause, are avoided.

The cylinder heads are provided with thermometers 92, extending into the admission valve chambers as close as possible to the admission ports, for determining the temperature of the superheated steam as it enters the cylinder.'

The cylinder supports 74 are extended beyond the cylinder at its rear end and form supports and guides for the removal of the rear head 7, which is formed or provided with separate feet or brackets 93, resting on said supports, guiding and supporting the head when it is detached from the cylinder in substantial alinement therewith and facilitating removing and replacing the same.

The operation of the engine, valves and Avalve gear will beunderstood from the Von the cylinder, puppet steam-admission and exhaust valves Vhaving stems guided in the bonnets, rocker shafts mounted in the bonnets transversely to the valve stems and to the axis of the cylinder and connected with the -valve stems, valve opening and variable releasing gear connected with each rocker shaft of the admission valves, wrist plates having connections for actuating the rocker shafts to open the valves, means tending to close the'valves, reciprocating eccentric rods arranged lengthwise of the'cylinder and rel leasable couplings for operatively connecting and disconnecting the eccentric rods with the wrist plates, each comprising a clamping 'sleeve Vpivoted on a wrist plate and iitted on aneccentricrod, a clamping screw intersectingthe bore of the sleeve on one side and adapted by engagement with a notch in the eccentric rod to lock the sleeve in working 'position on the rod, the clamping screw bemits it to slide freelyin the sleeve, and a Y spring pressed tapered pin fitted in the sleeve Vand adapted by engagement withv a corresponding tapered'socket inthe eccentricrrod,

to bringthe notch therein into exact register withthe cross bore in the sleeve vfor the clamping screw. f

2. In a steam engine the combination of a cylinder provided with valves, valve operating gear comprising. a rocker connected with the valves, and a reciprocating rod having a transverse notch in one side, and a coupling for releasably connecting 'said' rod with the rocker comprising a clamping sleeve pivotally mounted on the rocker and fitted on the rod, and a clamping screw intersecting the bore of the sleeve on. one side and adapted by engagement withv the notchin the rod to lock the sleeve in operative position on the rod, the clamping screw being formed in one side with. a notch which when turned into register with the bore of the sleeve releases the rod and permits it to'slide freely in the sleeve. Y

In witnesswhereof I hereto aiiix my signature. Y Y f i Y f JOHN G. KELLER. 

